SAN ANTONIO — “Jotos del Barrio,” Jesús Alonzo's play exploring the lives of young gay and transgendered Latinos, returns to the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center for the next three weekends. The piece, which Alonzo wrote in college, received a staged reading there in 1995, followed seven years later by a well-received full staging at Jump-Start Performance Co. Maria Ibarra, who directed the Jump-Start show, is once again directing.

The San Antonio Symphony wraps up its current subscription season with a program featuring Mahler's Symphony No. 5 and selections from Copland's “Old American Songs.” Music Director Sebastian Lang-Lessing conducts. The musicians will be joined by the Children's Chorus of San Antonio, led by founder Marguerite McCormick, who is retiring from the organization. Those who'd rather not head right home after Friday's concert might want to check out the Club Coda Mahler Mixer, an after-concert bash with hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. It takes place from 10 p.m. to midnight at Hotel Contessa, 306 Market St. Tickets to the concert and the mixer cost $30, or $50 per couple; season ticket holders can get tickets to the mixer for $10 a pop.

“Clonster,” a new piece by Beth Lorio and Andrew Thornton, explores an age-old question: What would happen if a monster and a clown met? According to the press release, “Dismemberment, dancing, chases and cases of mistaken identity ensue.” Lorio and Thornton, who also will perform the piece, have spent the past two years working on it, delving into questions about the distinguishing characteristics of clowns and monsters, and where those traits overlap, among other matters.

Jump-Start Performance Co. launches a month of short pieces this weekend. “Café du Jump-Start: 8x8” will feature a range of works by company members and other artists. The program will shift over time. Some works will recur; others will be one-time-only outings. Artists taking part include Chuck Squier, Marisela Barrera, Pamela Dean Kenny and Mellissa Marlowe.

Step Afrika! closes out the performance season at the Carver Community Cultural Center. The troupe is billed as the first professional troupe dedicated to stepping, the percussive dance style blending traditional African moves with other influences.